Some of the most profound emotions of the heart utter themselves in chaste brevity of words, as when John tells us of Christ's sharp grief at the grave of Lazarus. He says simply, "Jesus wept." With exquisite good taste, the scholars who divided the Bible into verses allowed those two words to stand alone. Nothing more is needed to reveal the mighty depth of Christ's love for His friend. -- A. W. Tozer
Any kid who goes to Sunday school can recite this verse to you. It is touted as the shortest verse in the Bible, comprised of only two words. Jesus wept. Consider the revelation of these two words. Jesus. Son of God. Creator of the universe. The Maker of worlds and fashioner of hearts. Those are tears running down the Maker's face. Why is He crying?
Lazarus had died. His friend had died. Death breaks God's heart. It was not His original design that men should die. That was the express purpose of His coming to this earth and putting on the robe of flesh. That is why He was born in the manger, lived a sinless life, and went to the cross. To die for us so we wouldn't have to die--forever. There is a second death about which the Bible speaks. (See Revelation 2:11; 20:6; 20:14; 21:8)
Notice at the beginning that Jesus is told, "Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick." Not "Lord, the one who is trying so hard to be faithful to you and love you and obey you is sick." Here, Jesus was known for one thing: loving his friend, Lazarus. The sisters didn't appeal to any favors that Jesus might owe his friend. Jesus is in debt to no man. Only the mention of his love is recorded....The pain, the agony, the undoing of what God designed in the garden, shook Jesus. He cried so intensely that even those standing by commented, "Behold how he loved him!" When words run out, tears speak, for they are oftentimes the language of the soul....But death would not get the last word. Requesting the stone be rolled back, and with the unnecessary comment about the stench of a decaying body, Jesus lifts up a loud voice and shouts into the cave, "Lazarus, come forth!" Jesus' voice undoubtedly echoed. Deep calling to deep, indeed. And when the disciples loosened Lazarus' grave clothing, what a sight it must have been for Lazarus to look out of the cave and see a tear-stained face, his friend full of love and limitless power, grinning at him, welcoming him back to life. Oh, the love and power of Jesus.1
Do you think Jesus still weeps on the throne as the world around us passes from this life into the next, hoping they'll make it? I believe He does. He cries because He never intended for man to be uncertain of where he will spend eternity. If we base our salvation on what we do and not upon the blood of Jesus that was shed on Calvary, we can be sure we won't make heaven. But praise Jesus for His tears! The heavens rend His heart is broken over the lost. Don't guess. Don't hope for the best. Know that the blood of Jesus will wash you from all your sin if you'll admit to Jesus that you're a sinner and call on Jesus to save you.
Romans 10:13 (AV) — 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
His heart was broken, mine was mended
He became sin, now I am clean
The cross he carried bore my burden
The nails that held him set me free
His life for mine, his life for mine
How could it ever be?
That he would die, God's son would die
To save a wretch like me
What love divine, he gave his life for mine
His scars of suffering brought me healing
He spilled his blood to fill my soul.
His crown of thorns made me royalty
His sorrow gave me joy untold
He was despised and rejected, stripped of his garments and oppressed
I am loved and accepted and I wear a robe of righteousness
Divine Tears
08/26/2020
Day 238: Divine Tears
John 11:35 (AV) — 35 Jesus wept.
Some of the most profound emotions of the heart utter themselves in chaste brevity of words, as when John tells us of Christ's sharp grief at the grave of Lazarus. He says simply, "Jesus wept." With exquisite good taste, the scholars who divided the Bible into verses allowed those two words to stand alone. Nothing more is needed to reveal the mighty depth of Christ's love for His friend. -- A. W. Tozer
Any kid who goes to Sunday school can recite this verse to you. It is touted as the shortest verse in the Bible, comprised of only two words. Jesus wept. Consider the revelation of these two words. Jesus. Son of God. Creator of the universe. The Maker of worlds and fashioner of hearts. Those are tears running down the Maker's face. Why is He crying?
Lazarus had died. His friend had died. Death breaks God's heart. It was not His original design that men should die. That was the express purpose of His coming to this earth and putting on the robe of flesh. That is why He was born in the manger, lived a sinless life, and went to the cross. To die for us so we wouldn't have to die--forever. There is a second death about which the Bible speaks. (See Revelation 2:11; 20:6; 20:14; 21:8)
Notice at the beginning that Jesus is told, "Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick." Not "Lord, the one who is trying so hard to be faithful to you and love you and obey you is sick." Here, Jesus was known for one thing: loving his friend, Lazarus. The sisters didn't appeal to any favors that Jesus might owe his friend. Jesus is in debt to no man. Only the mention of his love is recorded....The pain, the agony, the undoing of what God designed in the garden, shook Jesus. He cried so intensely that even those standing by commented, "Behold how he loved him!" When words run out, tears speak, for they are oftentimes the language of the soul....But death would not get the last word. Requesting the stone be rolled back, and with the unnecessary comment about the stench of a decaying body, Jesus lifts up a loud voice and shouts into the cave, "Lazarus, come forth!" Jesus' voice undoubtedly echoed. Deep calling to deep, indeed. And when the disciples loosened Lazarus' grave clothing, what a sight it must have been for Lazarus to look out of the cave and see a tear-stained face, his friend full of love and limitless power, grinning at him, welcoming him back to life. Oh, the love and power of Jesus.1
Do you think Jesus still weeps on the throne as the world around us passes from this life into the next, hoping they'll make it? I believe He does. He cries because He never intended for man to be uncertain of where he will spend eternity. If we base our salvation on what we do and not upon the blood of Jesus that was shed on Calvary, we can be sure we won't make heaven. But praise Jesus for His tears! The heavens rend His heart is broken over the lost. Don't guess. Don't hope for the best. Know that the blood of Jesus will wash you from all your sin if you'll admit to Jesus that you're a sinner and call on Jesus to save you.
Romans 10:13 (AV) — 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
His heart was broken, mine was mended
He became sin, now I am clean
The cross he carried bore my burden
The nails that held him set me free
His life for mine, his life for mine
How could it ever be?
That he would die, God's son would die
To save a wretch like me
What love divine, he gave his life for mine
His scars of suffering brought me healing
He spilled his blood to fill my soul.
His crown of thorns made me royalty
His sorrow gave me joy untold
He was despised and rejected, stripped of his garments and oppressed
I am loved and accepted and I wear a robe of righteousness
His life for mine, his life for mine
How could it ever be?
That he would die, God's son would die
To save a wretch like me
Like me
What love divine, he gave his life for mine
--Rebecca Peck
1 Early, Alex. The Reckless Love of God: Experiencing the Personal, Passionate Heart of the Gospel. Grand Rapids, MI: Bethany House, 2015. Print.